Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Bonnet Strap, good idea or bad idea?

If you end up with double buckle I would recommend undoing both buckles whichever side you are opening up, just in case it slips if you only undo one buckle.

That's a really good point Adrian, Hmmmmmm maybe a rethink is in order, never considered the damage a heavy buckle and strap would cause.....thanks, that's wise.

Yes, that's a really good point, isn't it? With a single buckle you can just undo it and chuck the long end back over the bonnet without worrying, but with a double buckle there's going to be a big lump of brass halfway along it just waiting to chip the paintwork.

Fastened my double buckles to the top louvers with those Velcro straps for securing wire looms. That way it stays with each side as opened. My belt is felt backed. No wear shows on paint.

Double buckle looks great but you have got to be a bit more careful how you lay it when you open the bonnet

I've got the Morgan shop issue black felt backed strap which I think looks great and I haven't had any scratches on the bonnet.

When I open the bonnet, I just place the buckle part felt side down on the wing and lay (rather than throw) the strap end on the other wing - it means going around the car each time but I've never seen it as an inconvenience.

The one problem I have got is it does now have a white 'bloom' on the leather from the detergent when I've washed the car - it looks a bit like a salt mark on shoe leather in that it's raised the nap of the leather

I keep putting shoe polish on it but it keeps coming through - should have protected it with dubbing initially perhaps instead of leather conditioner

Apply a little Neatsfoot oil Stewart and wash the strap with saddle soap after washing the car and before applying the oil.
The strap will darken over time, but the leather will be protected...

Excellent points chaps, many thanks. Revised plans and I am going for a single buckle in black with chromed buckle now, hopefully Morgan wings embossed. I have heard however from a couple of people who said they bought the one from MMC and had the same issue with it going white (the salt type marks described earlier) and I want to avoid that. When I had the old +4 13 or so years ago I used to take a small towel with me when I opened the bonnet, put it on the wing and laid the buckle on that, will have to start doing that again. Cheers all.

Like all leather it does need a bit of tlc every now and again. I use some old saddle leather stuff that's been kicking around since my riding days.

I fitted a twin buckle strap from Steve Simmonds (now produced for Williams) to my 4/4. It looked good but as the leather stretched it was the very devil to refit and maintain the balance of the top strap. Luckily the new owner of the strap has it pre stretched! I fitted a single buckle felt lined strap to my Roadster and had no stretching problems.

Saddle soap or a liquid pro leather cleaner is ideal.

We clean a lot of Leather sofas and use a pro lanoline based cleaner/conditioner.

BTW forget wipes ....they are out of favour in the trade...as they really do not put enough solution on the leather.

Thanks for these tips. My black belt has a white bloom on the buckle end, I suspect like Stewart's. Neither shoe polish nor dubbin seems to help. Must say the lambs wool backing seems to have prevented scratching but I do comb it before fastening it. Reginald has his own comb for the purpose, thinks I'm crazy . She may have a point.

Andy